After signing with the Celtics in March as a free agent, he averaged just 8.8 minutes in 17 games, but believed there would be another opportunity to play in green.

I talked to coach Doc Rivers a little bit at the end of the season and he kind of told me that hes happy with what he saw in practices because I didnt have a lot of playing time, he told CSNNE.com after practice on Monday. I came in late, but I had a little feeling.

Rivers liked what he saw in the limited glimpses of the 6-foot-7 swingman. For a team adding versatile pieces to their bench, Pavlovic was a good fit. The Celtics signed him to a one-year contract on Monday, which president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said is guaranteed.

I believe he can be a good player, said Rivers. I told him that last year. I told him in our exit meetings that his talent is in him, its all between his ears. I think he can be a really good player. Hes still relatively young and so were going to try to get him out of him.

Pavlovic, 28, is entering his ninth season in the NBA. He spent the offseason working out back home in Montenegro, and returned to Cleveland last week in hopes of securing a roster spot in the league.

I was hoping for this call, he said of signing with the Celtics. So as soon as I got it, I was happy and couldnt wait to get here.

This season Pavlovic will look to carve out his own place on the C's roster. And even if close friend Nenad Krstic is no longer on the squad this season, he feels back at home after his first day at practice.

Im not by myself, he said with a smile. I have teammates here, just like Nenad was.